Shelby Miller retires 27 straight, Cards beat Rockies 3-0

ST. LOUIS, MO - MAY 10: Starter Shelby Miller #40 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium on May 10, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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(AP) -- Shelby Miller gave up a leadoff single then retired 27 in a row for his first career complete game, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Eric Young Jr. had a line drive hit to right field to start the game for the Rockies but Miller (5-2) gave up nothing else in his first shutout. The right-hander struck out Young to end it with his 13th K, tying a Cardinals rookie record.

The one-hitter was the fewest hits allowed by a Cardinals pitcher since Bud Smith tossed a no-hitter on Sept. 3, 2001, and it was the second one-hitter of the night in the major leagues. Boston's Jon Lester was perfect until he allowed a two-out double in the sixth against Toronto.

In a near-perfect performance, Miller threw 113 pitches.

Miller lowered his ERA to 1.39, which is the lowest for a Cardinals pitcher in his first eight starts since Howie Pollet had a 2.09 ERA in his first eight in 1941.

Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer — his ninth — for St. Louis. Pete Kozma added an RBI single and Jon Jay a sacrifice fly for the Cardinals, who are National League-best 22-12.

Yadier Molina had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, which is the longest for a Cardinal this season.

Rockies starter Jon Garland (2-3) gave up all three runs in five innings. Garland allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out five.

Garland retired the first five batters he faced before Jay singled to center with two outs in the second. David Freese walked, and Kozma drove home Jay with a single to left.

Beltran made it 2-0 when he hit Garland's first pitch of the third inning 409 feet into the seats in right. Jay gave the Cardinals a three-run cushion with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

NOTES: Dick Hughes and Scipio Spinks also struck out 13 for the Cardinals as rookies. ... Molina is batting .461 (18 for 39) during his hitting streak. ... Colorado has not won a series in St. Louis since sweeping four games from June 5-8, 2009. ... Jay extended his hitting streak to seven games with his second-inning single. ... Garland is 1-6 with 6.61 ERA in his career against St. Louis. ... Former Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter took another step toward possibly returning to the mound by tossing a pain-free bullpen session. The 38-year-old's career appeared as if it may be over when it was announced in February that he was unlikely to pitch in 2013 because he was still experiencing chronic pain in his neck, shoulder and arm. Friday's bullpen session was the fourth for Carpenter, who tossed about 70 pitches.